New Polymer Film with Lithium Ions Achieves 96.3% Methylene Blue Removal from Water
A recent study published in Discover Materials on November 3, 2026, details the development of a novel thin polymer film, designated PQ-Li, capable of removing 96.3% of methylene blue from aqueous solutions. This film is composed of polyvinyl alcohol physically cross-linked with quercetin, a plant-derived polyphenol, and embedded with alkali hydroxides. Researchers S. Saranya Parvathi, Anjana J. V. Krishna, and Naveen V. Kulkarni synthesized these films using a solution casting method, varying the incorporated alkali metal ion. The study found that the choice of alkali metal ion significantly influences the film's selective adsorption of cationic dyes, with the lithium-ion-embedded composite demonstrating the highest adsorption performance and excellent selectivity for positively charged dye molecules in mixed dye waste streams. Beyond its high adsorption capacity, the PQ-Li film exhibits enhanced water uptake, improved thermal stability, and better mechanical properties compared to the base polymer, cruci...
